A case of left inferior vena cava.

A case of left inferior vena cava (IVC) was found in a 72-year-old male cadaver during student dissection practice in 1999 at Gifu University School of Medicine. It was formed by junction of the left and right common iliac veins at the lower left corner of the 5th lumbar vertebra. This IVC (15-mm caliber) ascended 82 mm along the left side of the abdominal aorta dorsally to the ureter. Receiving the left renal vein, it became 21 mm in caliber and ran obliquely upward for 43 mm across the abdominal aorta. As soon as it received two right renal veins at the level of the 2nd lumbar vertebra, the IVC (25-mm caliber) turned directly above. The present case belongs to Type C of the classification of McClure and Butler (1925), which is based on the combinations of the left and right IVCs, and on their location relative to the ureters. The present case also belongs to Type 1 of the classification of Yoshida et al. (1981). We consider that left IVC in the present case is mainly caused by disappearance of the right supracardinal vein and persistence of the left one during the embryological development of the IVC.     

Left inferior vena cava with regressed right inferior vena cava

A left inferior vena cava was found in the cadaver of an 88-year-old Japanese man during a student dissection course at Kumamoto University School of Medicine. The right common iliac vein ascended obliquely toward the left behind the right common iliac artery and united with the left common iliac vein to form the inferior vena cava in front of the fifth lumbar vertebral body behind the left common iliac artery. The inferior vena cava ascended on the left side to the aorta, and after the left renal vein joined to it at the level of the third lumbar vertebral body, it turned obliquely to the right and crossed superficially to the aorta. At the right side of the aorta, the common stem of the third lumbar vein and the posterior renal vein was joined to the oblique part. The inferior vena cava then ascended, receiving the right renal vein as it would normally. The inferior vena cava is thought to develop symmetrically but this left inferior vena cava shows a persistence of the left channel of the infrarenal part, which normally disappears. Although the common stem of the veins that joined to the oblique part on the right side did not continue to the right common iliac vein, gross anatomical findings suggested it to be the remnant of the right inferior vena cava.     

Double inferior vena cava with interiliac vein: a case report and literature review

The duplication of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare, but well-recognized anomaly. Duplicated IVC has a significant relevance for retroperitoneal surgery and venous interventional radiology. We report a case of duplicated IVC, which was observed during routine dissection of an 84-year-old Japanese female cadaver. The interiliac vein between the duplicated IVC ran obliquely upwards from left to right. We performed systematic literature review of published reports based on Pubmed and Medline from 1967 to 2011. Of 109 cases with IVC anomalies identified by the literature search, 22 cases (20.2%) displayed no interiliac anastomosis. The interiliac vein connecting duplicated IVC existed in 74 cases (67.9%). According to the running direction of the interiliac vein, we found that the vein ran from left to right in 42 cases, coursed from right to left in 19 cases, and ran horizontally in 13 cases. Thirteen left IVC displayed symmetrical-to-normal connection with the bilateral common iliac veins. Awareness of these venous variations is necessary to reduce surgical risk and to determine strategy in interventional radiology.     

Duplication of the inferior vena cava associated with other variations

Multiple vascular variations, including duplication of the inferior vena cava, double renal arteries and anomalies of the testicular blood vessels, were observed during dissection of the retroperitoneal region of a cadaver of an 87-year-old Japanese man. The right inferior vena cava arose from the union of right common iliac veins and a thinner interiliac vein. This interiliac vein ascended obliquely from right to left and joined the left common iliac veins to form the left inferior vena cava. The right and left inferior venae cavae were of approximately equal width. The right testicular vein consisted of medial and lateral venous trunks. The two venous trunks coalesced to form a single vein, which drained into the confluence of the right inferior vena cava and right renal vein. The left testicular vein was composed of the medial and lateral testicular veins, which drained into the left renal vein. Double renal arteries were seen bilaterally, which originated from the lateral aspects of the abdominal aorta. The right testicular artery arose from the right inferior renal artery and accompanied the lateral trunk of the right testicular vein running downwards. The left testicular artery arose from the ipsilateral inferior renal artery and ran downwards accompanied by the left lateral testicular vein. In addition, the bilateral kidneys showed multicystic changes.     

Duplicate testicular veins accompanied by anomalies of the testicular arteries.

Duplicate testicular veins associated with other anomalies of the testicular arteries were observed during dissection of the posterior abdominal wall in a 90-year-old Japanese male cadaver. The right testicular vein was composed of the medial and lateral testicular veins. The medial testicular vein drained into the inferior vena cava, whereas the lateral testicular vein drained into the confluence of the inferior vena cava and right renal vein. Several anastomosing branches were seen between the medial and lateral testicular veins. The left testicular vein was formed after the medial and lateral venous trunks joined and drained into the ipsilateral renal vein. The right testicular artery originated from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta at the level of the left renal artery, passed posterior to the inferior vena cava, and accompanied the right lateral testicular vein running downwards. The left testicular artery arose from the abdominal aorta at a level of 5 cm below the origin of the right testicular artery, and then ran downwards accompanied by the medial trunk of the left testicular vein.     

Anatomical variations of the internal iliac veins in the presacral area: Clinical implications during sacral colpopepxy or extended pelvic lymphadenectomy

The purpose of this study was to classify anatomical variations of the internal iliac vein (IIV) in relation to robotic or laparoscopic extended lymphadenectomy. Between March 2011 and July 2012, 60 consecutive patients underwent robotic or laparoscopic extended lymphadenectomy. We retrospectively reviewed surgical video clips and analyzed the pattern of the IIVs in the presacral area. IIV variations were classified into seven types: Type A, normal (n = 39, 65.0%); Type A with a dilated middle sacral vein (n = 5, 8.3%); Type B, left IIV connecting centrally to the left external iliac vein (n = 5, 8.3%); Type C, a separated trunk of the left IIV draining into the left central common iliac vein (CIV; n = 1, 1.7%); Type D, a separated trunk of the right IIV draining into the left central CIV (n = 8, 13.3%); Type E, a separated trunk of the right IIV draining into the right central CIV (n = 0, 0%); and Type F, separated trunks of the bilateral IIV connecting with each other before draining into the left central CIV (n = 2, 3.3%). The prevalence of IIV anomalies was 26.7%; the incidence of separated IIV trunks was 18.3%. To prevent life‐threatening IIV injury during extended lymphadenectomy or sacral colpopexy, the anatomical variations of the IIVs should be known exactly. Clin. Anat. 28:661–664, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

双下腔静脉的MSCT表现及临床意义

目的　探讨双下腔静脉（inferior vena cava,IVC）的多层螺旋CT（multi-slice spiral CT,MSCT）表现及临床意义。 方法　收集经腹部MSCT多期增强扫描发现的18例双IVC患者,采用MPR、MIP和VR等血管成像技术显示IVC解剖,回顾性分析患者临床及影像学资料,结合文献讨论双IVC影像学特征、胚胎学机制及临床意义。 结果　18例双IVC的MSCT表现为3种类型。Ⅰ型83.33%（15例）表现为左侧IVC上行至左肾静脉汇入,再以左肾静脉正常方式经主动脉前方右行,汇入正常的右侧IVC。Ⅱ型11.11%（2例）表现为右侧IVC上行达腰2椎体平面,经腹主动脉后方左行汇入左侧IVC,后者再上行延续为半奇静脉,然后经奇静脉和上腔静脉汇入右心房;右肾静脉主要汇入右侧肾上段IVC,但存在侧支与右侧肾下段IVC相连。Ⅲ型5.56%（1例）表现为右侧IVC全程行径正常,左侧IVC垂直上行接收左肾静脉汇入后,于主动脉后方向右上走行与奇静脉连接。 结论　双IVC有多种复杂的变异类型,对于腹膜后手术及下半身静脉血栓治疗具有重要的临床意义。     

Preureteric inferior vena cava with possible rudiment of the proper inferior vena cava

A right single preureteric inferior vena cava (IVC) was found in the cadaver of a 77-year-old Japanese male during a student dissection course at Kumamoto University School of Medicine in 2003. The ureter emerged from the lower end of the hilum of the right kidney at the second lumbar vertebral level. It ran inferomedially to pass behind the IVC, and turned inferolaterally to cross the vein superficially at the level of the third to the fourth lumbar vertebrae. Then, the ureter was situated to the right of the IVC, and descended ordinarily. The second lumbar vein of each side united bilaterally, as did the third lumbar veins. The common stem of the second lumbar veins drained into the left side of the IVC posterolaterally at the level of the second intervertebral disc, and the third common stem opened into the left border of the IVC at the fourth lumbar vertebral level. The ureter hooked around the IVC between the openings of those common stems. There was a small continuation (0.2 mm in diameter) between the left second lumbar and the right third lumbar veins along the vertebral column slightly right of the midline. It passed superficial to the right third lumbar artery, as did the IVC. The right testicular vein opened into the IVC at the level of the lower end of the third lumbar vertebral body. Generally, the level of the opening of the gonadal vein corresponds to the level of the caudal end of the remaining subcardinal vein, but it is lower than usual in this case. Furthermore, the segment from the confluence of the common iliac veins to the common trunk of the third lumbar veins, and to the small continuation can be regarded as the proper IVC, and the part where the ureter hooks around it may have derived from the anastomosis between the common trunk of the third lumbar veins and the subcardinal vein.     

Two cases of the double inferior venae cavae

Two cases of the double inferior venae cavae (IVC) were found during the student dissection practice in 1997 in Gifu University School of Medicine. On the first case (70-year-old male), the calibers of the right and left IVC were 15 mm and 13 mm, respectively. An anastomosis (4-mm caliber) ran obliquely from the left internal iliac vein to the right IVC. On the second case (86-year-old male), the calibers of the right and left IVC were 15 mm and 10 mm, respectively. We found no anastomosis between the right and left IVC. Each IVC was observed behind the ureter. Both cases belong to Type BC of the classification of McClure and Butler (1925), that is based on the combinations of the right and left IVC, and on their location to the ureters. Both cases also belong to Type II-b-2 of the classification of Takemoto et al. (1978), that is based on the calibers of the right and left IVC and on the running course of the interiliac vein. These are the first and second cases among 808 cadavers in Gifu University School of Medicine and the 93rd and 94th cases in Japan since 1901.     

An abnormal pattern of blood vessels in the retroperitoneal space with a duplicated inferior vena cava in an adult: a case report

Summary During dissection a duplicated inferior vena cava (IVC) was found in an 82 year-old male. The IVCs were connected with each other by two anastomoses. The course of the other retroperitoneal veins also exhibited some alterations: Just below the diaphragm the azygos and the right ascending lumbar v. ran into the right IVC separately; the hemiazygos and the left ascending lumbar vv. joined before entering the left IVC. The testicular vv. ended normally on the right side in the right IVC, on the left side in the left renal vein. The embryologic basis of the pattern of these vessels is discussed and a short overview of the literature given. In the present case there were also some alterations in the course of the renal and testicular aa.

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Une disposition anormale des vaisseaux sanguins dans l'espace rétro-péritonéal avec une duplication de la veine cave inférieure chez un adulte. Un cas

Résumé Il a été trouvé, pendant les dissections, une veine cave inférieure double chez un homme de 82 ans. Ces deux veines caves inférieures étaient réunies par deux anastomoses. Le trajet des autres veines rétro-péritonéales montrait aussi quelques anomalies : Juste au-dessous du diaphragme, la veine azygos et la veine lombale ascendante droite se jetaient dans la veine cave droite séparément, la veine hémiazygos et la veine lombale ascendante gauche se rejoignaient avant de se jeter dans la veine cave inférieure gauche. Les veines testiculaires se terminaient comme normalement sur le côté droit de la veine cave droite, et à gauche dans la veine rénale gauche. La base embryologique de cette disposition des vaisseaux est discutée et un court survol de la littérature est donné. Dans le cas présenté, il y avait aussi quelques variations du trajet des artères rénales et testiculaires.

     

Multiple variations of the renal and testicular vessels: possible embryological basis and clinical importance

During routine dissection of the abdominal cavity of a 55-year-old African male cadaver, multiple anomalies including renal and testicular vessels were encountered. The right kidney was supplied by three right hilar renal arteries arising from the abdominal aorta at different vertebral levels whereas only one left renal artery supplied the left kidney. On the right three renal veins drained the kidney into the inferior vena cava. In contrast, the left kidney was drained by a single renal vein which received a large primary posterior tributary. The primary posterior tributary had three tributaries from the posterior lumbar region. The right testis had two sources of arterial supply; one from the subcostal artery and another from the abdominal aorta. The left testis was supplied normally by a single testicular artery. The right testis was drained by four testicular veins as follows: one drained into the subcostal vein, the other two drained separately for a longer course and joined shortly before draining into the right main renal vein, the fourth one drained into the anterior aspect of the inferior vena cava at the level of the second lumbar vertebra. On the left, the testicle was drained by two testicular veins which travelled separately from the deep inguinal ring and joined shortly before they drain into the left renal vein. This variation may represent an immature form of complicated development of kidneys and testes. Additionally, emphasis must be put on preoperative vascular examination to avoid surgical complications from variant vessels in this region.     

腹腔镜右半结肠切除术相关血管的活体解剖学观察

目的阐明腹腔镜右半结肠切除术(laparoscopic right hemicolectomy,LRH)相关血管的活体解剖学特点。方法对36例接受LRH的肿瘤病人进行术中观察和术后录像复习。结果肠系膜上静脉(superior mesenteric vein,SMV)为起于右髂窝上缘,位于小肠系膜和升结肠系膜交界部的蓝色条纹。肠系膜上动脉在系膜内难以目视辨认,走行于SMV左侧。回结肠血管出现率100%,为升结肠系膜内、十二指肠水平部下缘附近、搏动的条索。胃结肠干出现率77.8%(28/36),包含上右结肠静脉/右结肠静脉者占比为89.3%(25/28);后者亦可直接注入SMV。胃结肠干于胰切迹右缘的横结肠后间隙汇入SMV右壁。右结肠动脉在胰颈下缘起始,常与胃结肠干伴行或交叉。结论正确的间隙(肠系膜内间隙)、标志和线索(肠系膜上静脉),是LRH中血管定位的解剖学基础。     

Rare origin of supernumerary renal vessels supplying the lower pole of the left kidney

The current observations have documented rare vascular anomalies in the right and left kidneys from a male and female cadaver, respectively. In the female left kidney in addition to being supplied by the normal renal artery and vein it contained a left lower polar renal artery and vein. The polar artery took origin from the inferior mesenteric artery to supply the lower pole and was drained by the left lower polar vein that opened into the left common iliac vein. The right kidney from a male cadaver showed supernumerary renal arteries and veins. The supernumerary upper renal artery took origin from the aorta and after a short course it gave rise into a cranial branch that took a long course to supply the lower pole and a caudal branch that entered the right kidney at the hilum. The supernumerary lower renal artery also took origin from the aorta and passed to supply the lower pole of the right kidney. Therefore, the lower pole of the right kidney received two arteries, but was not associated with a polar vein. The right kidney in addition to the normal right renal vein contained a supernumerary right renal vein. The vein was seen at the hilum and was the most posterior structure; passing behind the supernumerary lower renal artery to open into the posterior surface of the inferior vena cava. The anomalies described in the current observation present a unique pattern of congenital renal vascular abnormalities that may be of surgical importance.     

Unusual origin and course of the testicular arteries

Background The testicular arteries usually arise from the anterolateral aspect of the abdominal aorta just inferior to the renal arteries at the level of the second lumbar vertebra. However, they may also originate from the renal artery, middle suprarenal artery, one of the lumbar arteries, common or internal iliac artery, or the superior epigastric artery. Methods An unusual origin of the right testicular artery and an unusual course of the left one were observed during routine dissection of the retroperitoneal space of a 43-year-old male cadaver. Results The right testicular artery originated from the inferior segmental branch of the right renal artery. After the left testicular artery originated from the anterolateral surface of the abdominal aorta just inferior to the left renal artery it was located between the left renal vein and the left renal artery and descended anterior to the renal vein. Thereafter it coursed on its normal route distally with the testicular vein. Conclusions Awareness of variations of the testicular arteries, such as that shown in this case, is important during surgical and radiological procedures pertaining to kidney.     

Experience in identifying the venous drainage of the adrenal gland during laparoscopic adrenalectomy

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is the procedure of choice for most adrenal tumors. An important part of LA is the early identification and ligation of the adrenal veins. The venous drainage from each adrenal gland is usually via a single vein: the right vein draining into the inferior vena cava (IVC) and the left vein into the left renal vein. Although infrequent, variable venous drainage has been documented. The aim of the study was to clarify if LA identified venous drainage and its variants. Between January 1999 and January 2008, 142 consecutive patients underwent LA. Adrenal vein anatomy was documented on a prospective database. In total, 142 patients underwent 162 LA (right = 62, left = 66, bilateral = 17). All adrenal veins were identified at the time of laparoscopy. For 157 LA, the adrenal venous drainage was constant: right vein drained into the IVC and left vein drained into left renal vein. Five patients had adrenal vein variants: two right veins draining separately into IVC (n = 1), two right veins draining into the IVC and right renal vein (n = 1), and two left veins draining separately into the left renal vein (n = 3). Adrenal vein variants were present in patients with phaeochromocytomas (n = 4) or adrenocortical carcinoma (n = 1). The laparoscopic approach allowed an excellent view of the main adrenal venous anatomy. This has helped confirm the constant nature of the venous drainage and successfully identify variant adrenal veins.     

Duplication of the inferior vena cava: anatomy,embryology and classification proposal

A case of a duplicated inferior vena cava (IVC) along with other anatomical vessel variations in a 72-year-old male cadaver is presented. The anomalous vessels involved, besides the IVC, were the left testicular vein and artery, the left suprarenal artery and a superior accessory left renal artery. Based on the gross appearance of the preaortic anastomotic trunk between the left and right IVC as well as on the underlying embryological features, a classification is proposed: incomplete bilateral duplication of the IVC and complete bilateral duplication of the IVC. The latter can be further divided into three types: major, minor and asymmetric.     

Clinical implications of concomitant variations of the testicular, suprarenal and renal veins: A case report

Multiple venous anomalies have been observed during dissection of the posterior abdominal wall in a 65-year-old, white male cadaver. The left testicular and suprarenal veins united inferior to the superior mesenteric artery, coursed anterior to the abdominal aorta and drained into the inferior vena cava (IVC). Further the left renal vein coursed retroaortically and divided into three branches. The superior branch coursed on the vertebral column and drained into the azygos vein while middle and inferior branches drained into the IVC. The right renal vein was double and both drained into the IVC separately. Due to implications for numerous therapeutical and diagnostic procedures in the retroperitoneal region knowledge of these variations could be useful for clinicians in its recognition and protection.     

Right gonadal arteries passing dorsally to the inferior vena cava: embryological hypotheses

The right gonadal artery (RGA) usually arises from the anterior wall of the abdominal aorta below the level of the renal arteries and veins, passes ventrally to the inferior vena cava (IVC), and then runs obliquely downward to reach the pelvic cavity. In this study, we observed 59 Japanese cadavers and found that in eight of them (13.6%), the RGA’s passed dorsally to the IVC. Together with the various courses of RGAs reported in the literature, we here divided the courses into four subtypes, due to the relationship to the left renal vein and the IVC, of superior, middle and lower types (L1 = ventrally, L2 = dorsal of IVC). Superior type was seen in 3.6%. Lower types were fount to in the most cases (L1: 83.5%, L2: 13.6%). The middle type was not realized. The classification of this variations make it easy to describe the RGA’s passing below the level of the left renal vein. RGA can pass either ventrally or dorsally to the IVC. RGAs passing at or above the level of the left renal vein run dorsally but not ventrally to the IVC. The variations in the origin, course and branching of RGAs are attributed to development of the IVC.     

Infra-renal angles, entry into inferior vena cava and vertebral levels of renal veins.

Current norms for renal vasculature hold true in only half the population. Standard textbooks perpetuate old misconceptions regarding renal venous anatomy. This study is aimed to determine left and right infra-renal angles (L-IRA, R-IRA); entry level of renal veins into the inferior vena cava (IVC), and height of IVC under renal vein influence; and their vertebral level. One hundred morphologically normal en-bloc renal specimens randomly selected from post-mortem examinations were dissected and resin casted. IRA were also measured from venograms of 32 adult and 11 foetal cadavers, as were vertebral entry levels. IRA measurements (degrees) were as follows: left, 55 degrees +/- 16 degrees (20 degrees -102 degrees ); right, 60 degrees +/- 17 degrees (10 degrees -93 degrees ). Left vein entered IVC higher than right 54%, lower 36%, and opposite each other 10%. Vertical distance between lower borders of veins was 1.0 +/- 0.9 cm. Vertical distance of IVC under renal vein influence was 2.3 +/- 1.0 cm. Vertebral level of veins in adults lies between TI2-L2. In foetuses, IRA was as follows: left, 65 degrees +/- 12 degrees (45 degrees -90 degrees ); right, 58 degrees +/- 7 degrees (40 degrees -70 degrees ); vertebral level between T12 and L3. Similar IRA values from literature noted on right, 51 degrees (26 degrees -100 degrees ); differences on left, 77 degrees (43 degrees -94 degrees ), clearly differing from Williams et al. (Gray's Anatomy, 37(th) ed, 1989) statement that renal veins "open into the inferior vena cava almost at right angles." Large variations of IRA are not surprising since kidneys are considered normally "floating viscera," varying position with posture and respiratory movement as well as in live vs. cadaveric subjects. The entry level into the IVC also differs from Williams et al. This study uniquely quantitated actual height difference between lower borders of left and right veins. The data presented appears to be the first documentation of vertebral level of entry of renal veins into IVC in foetuses. These findings are clinically important for the angiographer, catheter design, and planning porto-renal shunt procedures.     

High bifurcation of abdominal aorta upon horseshoe kidney at the level of upper L2 vertebral body: a rare case report

A high-positioned bifurcation of abdominal aorta upon a horseshoe kidney at the level of upper L2 vertebral body was detected during contrast enhanced abdominal computed tomography scan. The isthmus was clamped between the two elevated and extended common iliac arteries. The right renal artery arose from right common iliac artery supplying the superior and medium segments of right kidney. The left renal artery originated from right common iliac artery and branched off into three main arteries supplying the medium segment of right kidney, the inferior segment of right kidney and the lower half part of left kidney, respectively. The left accessory renal artery arose from abdominal aorta supplying the upper half part of left kidney. The inferior mesenteric artery arose from right common iliac artery. Lumbarization anomaly, scoliolosis, asymmetric pelvis and serious hydronephrosis of left kidney were also found. We describe this rare case of variations and discuss the possible embryonic development mechanism.